COLIDiE. 221 



Genus COLIUS, Brisson. 



Bill moderate, broad, and elevated at the base, with the 

 culraen arched, and the sides compressed to the tip, which 

 is acute ; the lateral margins sinuated ; the gonys short, 

 and slightly ascending ; the nostrils placed in a short, 

 broad membranous groove, with the opening small and 

 exposed ; wings moderate, with the first quill long, the 

 second to the fourth nearly equal and longest; tail much 

 lengthened, gradu ited, with the feathers narrowed through- 

 out ; tarsi as long as the middle toe, robast, and covered 

 with broad scales ; toes rather long, the lateral toes equal, 

 the hind moderate, united at the base of the inner toe, 

 and directed forward ; the claws long, curved, and very 

 acute. 



447. ColiUS ErythropUS, Gml ; Lath , Gen Syn , 

 PI. 41 ; C. Leuconotus, Lath, ; C. Erythropygius, Vieil, 

 C. Capensis, Gmel. (apud Sundevall) ; Le Coliou a dos 

 Blanc, Le Vail., No. 257. 



CTppER parts, generally ash-coloured ; a white line, bordered 

 on each side by a broad black one, extends from between the 

 shoulders to the rump, which is purple, glossed with red ; 

 throat and chin cinereous, changiuj? into vinaceous on the 

 breast, and a dirty-yellow on the belly ; head crested ; tail 

 very long, and graduated ; wings short and rounded ; legs in a 

 fresh specimen bright coral-red ; bill bluish ; plumage of 

 body singularly short and hair-like. Total length, 13" or 

 14"; wing, 3" 7"'; tail, 10"; bill, 6'" ; tarsus, 8'". 



Of the three species of tliis genus found in South Africa, and known 

 by the trivial name of Muisvogel, or Mousebird, this is the only one that 

 is found in the neighbourliood of Cape Town. It is not uncommon in 

 gardens during the fruit season, raufi;ing about in small families of six 

 or eight individuals. They fly with a rapid, though laboured flight, 

 generally at a lower level than the object at which they aim, and on 

 nearing it rise upward with a sadden abrupt curve. They creep among 

 the branches like parrots aud hang suspended, head downwards, 

 without inconvenience; indeed, it is said t'lat they invariably sleep 

 in this position, many of them congregated together in a ball. 

 They are said to breed in holes of trees, laying three or four eggs, 

 somewhat rounded at each end, of a dull white colour : axis, 10"; 

 diameter, 8'". 



In habits, the three species closely resemble each other ; and at the 

 Knysna, where they are all to bo found, we freqiu-ntly shot them, 

 and eould not distinguish which we had obtained until we pickel 

 them up. 



